Much more needs to be done to improve the services offered for Britain's 10.5 million older people, say MPs. 

The Commons public accounts committee says the government has paid attention to developing services for those over state pension age. 

But it says the way services are delivered can be confusing, and often people do not take up entitlements. 

The MPs suggest a review of each person's benefits could be linked to the over-75s health check given by GPs. 

Confusion fears 
By 2040, a quarter of the British population is expected to be over state pension age. 

The MPs' new report on Thursday says the government is trying to meet their needs through initiatives such as the Pension Service and a new framework to improve health services for older people. 

But it warns that complex arrangements and poorly explained rules discourage people from using services or claiming their entitlements. 

Committee chairman Edward Leigh, a Conservative MP, welcomed the efforts, which were being made. 

"But much more could be done to provide the standard of service that older people need and deserve," he said. 

"Services should be designed with the needs of older people in mind and must be clearly explained. 

"There should be better co-operation between different organisations." 

'One stop' shops 
The committee says the government should draw on the experience of voluntary groups, while being careful not to overburden them. 

The MPs argue that older people often discover more about government services by word of mouth than through official channels. 

They suggest that more parts of the country could use medical check-ups to make sure older people are getting the benefits to which they are entitled. 

"More generally, the consolidation of services, through moves towards 'one-stop' shops, is of considerable value to older people," adds their report.